My attempt at a salt bar

[kniquy]

This is only my second batch of soap. I am really just in an experimental stage and I find interesting soaps and want to make them. I started reading up on salt bars, the benefits of them are intriguing and the fact that they are so different from a regular bar of soap made me want to give it a try. I have seen many recipes that note having a high coconut oil percentage is necessary for good lather, but with only having a little on hand (about 12 oz) and stuck in a snow storm I was limited.

32oz batch recipe
coconut oil 40%
Olive oil 30%
Sweet Almond oil 14%
Castor oil 6%
Shea butter 5%
Cocoa butter 5%
I added 20oz of salt - so about 63% of my oils
2oz of FO

I poured some in individual molds (yes they are a little messy) and then the rest in my loaf mold. After about an hour my small molds were still soft, but the loaf was pretty firm. I decided to wait one more hour before i unmolded. At the 2 hours mark the smaller molds were still soft (not sure why) but the loaf was ready to go. I unmolded and lost a couple corners. As I was cutting there were a few brittle spots, but i managed to get most bars to stay together. I had some pink Hawaiian salt that i used as a little garnish on the top. We shall see what happens once they cure.

hour mark the small

 

[shunt2011]

Salt bars require high coconut as they will have a great lather. With your recipe, you may find the lather lacking. Especially with butters in it. Salt bats are at least 80% CO and 15-20% SF.

 

[Dawni]

It's quite big batch too! What I do when I'm short is make a smaller batch, so I can use the needed oils as close to what is "required" for an ideal recipe. 12oz coconut oil is slightly less than 80% of a one pound batch if my math is correct.

I also read that you don't need a lot of hard butters because the coconut is enough, and butters reduce lather.

Your soaps look cute though! Let us know how it goes once you're able to test them

 

[SaltedFig]

The loaf likely gelled and the individual bars did not - that would explain why the little ones are still soft - they'll harden up just fine

If you move away from coconut (which is one of the few oils that will make a soap that lather's easily in salt water), the lather will be reduced (as Shari mentioned), however the salt bar will still get you clean and should still give you a slight mild, creamy lather once it's cured (just not as much as a higher coconut recipe would). For extra bubble boosting, add sugars.

Pretty looking soaps ... just remember to brush off the pink salt before you use them (Himalayan salt in that size has sharp edges large enough to cut skin, if used directly on the skin). This is a non-issue if you are using a wash-cloth .